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Mechanical aptitude practice test

Ten questions on gears, levers, pulleys and more.

Free practice quiz

Mechanical aptitude tests check whether you can picture how simple machines behave. Employers and some apprenticeships use them for maintenance, millwright, elevator and plant jobs. Try these ten questions, then read the explanation under each one.

In short

A mechanical aptitude test asks practical physics questions about gears, levers, pulleys, springs, fluids and basic electricity, usually with pictures and multiple choice answers under a time limit. Common versions include the Bennett Mechanical Comprehension Test and tests written by employers. You do not need formulas so much as a feel for how forces and motion trade off, which practice builds quickly.

Sources checked October 11, 2026Pay, training and outlook come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Pay is the middle (median) figure nationally; your first paycheck in the trade will usually be lower.
1. Gear A has 20 teeth and turns at 10 revolutions per minute. It drives gear B, which has 40 teeth. How fast does gear B turn?
2. Two gears are meshed together. Gear A turns clockwise. Which way does gear B turn?
3. A 100 lb load sits 2 feet from the pivot of a lever. How much force is needed 4 feet from the pivot on the other side to balance it?
4. You lift a 200 lb load with a single movable pulley. Ignoring friction, about how much force do you pull with?
5. Which wrench makes it easiest to loosen a tight bolt?
6. Water flows through a pipe that narrows from 2 inches to 1 inch. In the narrow section the water
7. Two ramps rise to the same height. Ramp A is 10 feet long and ramp B is 20 feet long. Pushing the same cart up ramp B takes
8. A 4 inch pulley drives an 8 inch pulley with a belt. Compared with the small pulley, the large pulley turns
9. One spring stretches 1 inch under a 10 lb weight. Two of these springs hooked end to end hold the same 10 lb weight. How far do they stretch in total?
10. A 60 lb child sits 5 feet from the middle of a seesaw. Where should a 100 lb adult sit on the other side to balance?

Topics that show up most

TopicWhat to know
GearsOpposite directions when meshed; more teeth means slower and stronger
LeversForce times distance balances on each side of the pivot
PulleysMore rope sections holding the load means less pulling force
FluidsNarrow pipes speed flow up; pressure spreads evenly in a closed system
HeatMetal expands when heated, which is why hot water loosens a stuck lid
ElectricityBasic circuits and Ohm's law

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Straight answers

What is a good score on a mechanical aptitude test?

Employers set their own cutoffs and often compare you with other applicants, so aim to answer as many as you can accurately within the time.

Is the mechanical aptitude test hard?

Most questions are not hard on their own. The challenge is the time limit, which practice helps with.

Which jobs use mechanical aptitude tests?

Maintenance technicians, millwrights, elevator mechanics, plant operators and some military and utility jobs commonly use them.

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